Bad local government: Elton = Kett's artiicle says purpose was to ensure good laws statues and proclomations made for good people were no longer disregarded by the Justices of Peace. Breakdown of trust between classes

Somersets Style of Government

Intensely personal: undermined and ignored the advice of council, using his own household officials as the country's administrators

His style was too kingly for others

Councillors complained that only Wolsey amongst commoner had produced letters so princely written. Paget's letters to Somerset spoke of 'your foreign affairs' 'your navy' 'your order for religion'

frequently used proclamations to announce decisions for changes in law, doing so more frequently than any other Tudor ruler

1549 as he was fighting for survival Somerset wrote of the 'poor commons being injured by the extortion's of gentlemen'

in the same month a proclamation was signed = 19/29 Councillors accused Somerset of a malice and evil government, pride, covetousness and extreme eambition

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Somerset's Fall and Dudley's Rise

Troops needed to put down rebellions : national leaders were infuriated

Somerset revealed as incompetent: must take good deal of blame for disrupting the country's life and had not shown an ability to contain the agitation that he helped to raise

Left opportunity for Dudley (Northumberland) to intervene: ambition and lack of religion aided him = party outraged by Somerset's religious changes, some just furious at his behaviour in general

Somerset allowed back on council however he rounds up troops and gets himself into trouble leading up to his execution

Northumberland secured friendships by handing out land to nobility

many key supporters in coup = conservatives whom hoped for regency to preside over Mary

Second coup = get rid of those who helped Somerset

exercise greater power as he does not have fear of ejection from conservatives

ejected Southampton and Arundel

declared himself as a duke and lord president of the council

did not want same role as Somerset

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Government under Northumberland

Cranmer was influencing king --> protestant styled government

Northumberland reinforced this by employing protestants such as Marquis of Dorset

Oct 1551 appointed himself as duke and appointed his own hard man John Gates as vice chamberlain of household to establish control over court

Hoak : rehabilitated Northumberland as other historians view him as a villain

tough but intelligent politician, one of the most able governors of Europe in 16th Cent

Loades: capable but mistakes cost him his reputation

made use of Cecil (Somerset's advisor) --> rising politician and effective administrator

Somerset formed a counter coup but was outwitted by Northumberland

got Somerset executed, England more settledPaget was removed from council and sent to tower in Northumberland's quest for power

Counter coup and possession of the dry stamp led to Northumberland showing little trust

Northumberland achieved a measure of stability in national finances

brought an end to wars with Scotland and France, reductions in crown expenditure, received payment of £133,333 for return of Bolougne, Crown income improved by increasing revenue from the church by unscrupulous methods: melting church plate for Bullion

Under influence of Mildmay = analysis of shortcomings of in financial admin

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Religion under Northumberland

Northumberland = man of minimal religious convictions

removal of conservatives and appointment of protestants shows protestant inclinations

twofold strategy on church = made Somerset's policy more clearer, wanted money

protestantism reflected the interests of the King himself

Edward was reaching the age of Majority and Northumberland needed to stay in his favour: took his role seriously, wanted to destroy idolatry

Political will of king,Cranmers theological shift, influence of radical churchmen (Ridley, Hooper) and criticisms of the book of prayer led to break

removal of remaining conservative ceremonies no longer fitted with regimes : conservatives could no longer find anything in the prayer book that they could accept

Radical reform of communion service including the replacement of water with ordinary bread --> need for decisive change from ambiguity : showed influence of Zwinglism in the Eucharist declaration "in remembrance that Christ's blood was shed for thee"

Edward's Final Years

late May = death predicted after serious relapse and possibly contracting septicaemia

"I am faint; Lord have mercy upon me and take my spirit'

only when his condition deteriorated, succession became an issue

those who wanted to avoid Marian succession: return to Catholicism

unlikely that there was any long term planning

Edward was too young to pass porclomations: needed parliamentary support

selected lady jane grey to be heir : staunch protestant, married to Northumberland's so

Both Edward and northumberland appear to have a role in the will

original notes jotted down in january in Edwards own hand, wanted to bar Mary's succession = Catholic, Initially suggested Lady Jane's heir as she was Henry's neice

crunch came when Ed suffered relapse: couldnt wait for janes heir, 12th Jun Northumberland visited Edward = minor can't make a will or override parliamentary stature, Marys claim still stands regardless of his will

legitimate claim lay clear with Mary, Montague refused to make will for danger of treason =declared him a traitor, Montague agreed: warned that it was not legal